You got pulled over and now you have to decide whether to pay the speeding ticket or fight it. The traffic courts, DMV, and other agencies won’t always make it easy to fight your ticket. Don’t let that stop you! Traffic tickets, from a minor moving violation to a high speeding ticket, can cause a multitude of problems. Enlisting the help of an experienced traffic attorney will help you avoid these problems, as well as save time and money.
1. A speeding ticket can add points to your driver’s license
Traffic offenses are tracked by a point system. As your points go up, the consequences for future speeding tickets get worse. Many states have a maximum point limit at which they will suspend and/or revoke your driver’s license. Once you’ve racked up those points, you won’t be able to go back and fight the string of speeding tickets that got you there. Taking each ticket seriously may save you time and money in the long run by keeping you from racking up points on your license.
2. You may face higher insurance premiums
Convictions, even if they carry no driver license points, make a motorist a greater risk to insure. Classified as a “high-risk” driver, insurance companies are quick to charge a higher premium to members who have frequent traffic violations. For many people who can’t afford the fines and higher premiums, paying a traffic attorney to fight your speeding ticket will save you money.
3. High fines, surcharges and assessments
Traffic ticket convictions come with fines and court surcharges that in many cases are greater than the fine itself. Many states also have assessment programs that charge additional fees based on point accumulation. Many jurisdictions have been rapidly and severely increasing these penalties in efforts to raise revenue.
4. Driver license suspension or revocation
Either due to a specific type of violation or an accumulation of points, convictions can lead to suspension of your driver license. Failure to take care of a traffic ticket in a timely fashion may lead to driver license suspension as well. Convictions for certain types of violations can lead to full revocation of your driver license. Driver license revocation usually means you’ll need to reapply for a license from scratch.
5. Unemployment
If you drive under an employer’s insurance policy, accumulation of points makes you a greater insurance risk and could result in your termination. Any problems at all with a Commercial driver license can quickly and easily lead to employment issues.
